The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 365 - 361: Clearly explaining the act of using public resources for personal gain.

Chapter 365: Chapter 361: Clearly explaining the act of using public resources for personal gain.

Xuanyuan Que saw that war was forthcoming, not immediately, nor a month later, but in about half a year; therefore, he did not rush to send troops, but preparation was needed in advance.

On the following day, Xuanyuan Que proposed to the Emperor that he wished to inspect the borderlands.

The Emperor expressed his surprise, "You’ve just arranged your marriage, and you can have a grand wedding as soon as the Imperial Astronomical Bureau sets the date. Why inspect the borderlands at this time? Why not wait until after your marriage?"

To inspect the borderlands, he did not specify whether it was Nanzhou, the Northern Border, or even the Western Frontier!

One round of inspection would inevitably take at least a year and a half, which would delay the marriage arrangements.

Xuanyuan Que responded, "There’s no time to delay."

Without inspections, he would not even be able to marry on schedule; with them, there was a chance to end the conflict before the wedding date.

The Emperor was startled, "What do you mean?"

Xuanyuan Que explained, "After next year’s harvest, four countries will join forces and send their armies against Xuanyuan Country. Moreover, there will be continual minor skirmishes at the border before that."

The Emperor stood up in shock.

Xuanyuan Que added, "The soldiers of Xuanyuan Country have been living in comfort for too long these past few years."

With that one statement, the Emperor understood.

These years had been peaceful at the border with favorable weather, and the state treasury was full.

The Emperor always had pity for the soldiers guarding the borders, providing them with plentiful military pay and food.

But people born in distress die in comfort.

He feared that in these years, the soldiers at the borders had already relaxed their attitudes, and their daily training was probably not as diligent as before.

It was quite normal for vigilance to wane without any warfare; the Emperor could understand that.

No wonder Xiaojiu wanted to patrol the borders!

Because patrolling could directly uncover issues and correct them in time.

It could also deter neighboring countries, making them hesitant to dispatch troops lightly.

The Emperor did not wish for war to break out.

Xuanyuan Country had not long been established and had just begun to prosper, entering a phase of strong growth.

Hadn’t the common people just begun to live well?

Once war breaks out, mass conscription will be inevitable, taxes that have just been lowered will be raised again, and most importantly, war will cause countless families to be destroyed.

The ruler of Xuanyuan Country was not an Emperor with grand ambitions. He did not possess the aspirations of a great man determined to conquer new territories and unify the land.

He only hoped that during his reign, he could create an era of great peace and prosperity, allowing his subjects to live securely and abundantly.

"What are your plans, my son, and whom do you intend to take with you to assist you in the inspection?" The greatest achievement in the life of the ruler of Xuanyuan Country, in his opinion, was not becoming the Emperor, but having two outstanding sons.

One was astute in governance, respectful of the wise and virtuous, adept at recognizing and appointing talented people, and harboring concern for all under heaven—most suited to be the ruler.

The other was resourceful and decisive, with grand strategies, able to control the overall situation, victorious from miles away, highly learned – it seemed there was nothing he didn’t understand, almost supernaturally intelligent.

Sometimes, the Emperor did not understand how he, not being particularly clever himself, could have fathered such an extraordinary son like Xiaojiu.

Xuanyuan Que: "I will take Ruo Zhou, Zhou Ludong, and Princess Wuyou to inspect Nanzhou. Ruo Hai will take Xuanyuan Jun and Yan Huan to inspect the Western Frontier, and the Northern Border will be handled by the Prince of Anqing and Xuanyuan Jie. Yan Heng and Yan Feng will stay in the Capital City to make preparations."

As for what preparations needed to be made, Xuanyuan Que did not say, but the Emperor knew.

The Emperor was dumbfounded upon hearing this: "Princess Wuyou? Why take Xuanbao to such a dangerous place?"

Xuanyuan Que: "I’m taking her to experience the scenery of Xuanyuan Country’s mountains and rivers."

An overt mix of public duty and private interest.

This left the Emperor speechless!

"You haven’t married yet, and you’re taking her out with you. Aren’t you afraid it will ruin her reputation?"

Xuanyuan Que: "Ruo Zhou will be there."

The Emperor: "..."

Alright, with Ruo Zhou there, outsiders won’t have much to say.

The Emperor then asked, "When do you plan to depart?"

"After Yan Jiaojiao and Zhou Ludong get married."

Thinking of Zhou Ludong, who had defended the border for many years before returning, the Emperor said, "General Zhou has just gotten married and now he has to go on a patrol again. Isn’t that inappropriate? Xuanyuan Country is not lacking other generals."

The Emperor couldn’t bear it any longer!

Xuanyuan Que, "Xuanbao will invite Yan Jiaojiao to accompany her."

Having one more lady with her would undermine her reputation even less.

The Emperor, "..."

Turns out, to bring Princess Wuyou along, he had thought of everything.

The Emperor always refrained from opposing anything Xuanyuan Que resolved to do; of course, opposition would be futile. This son of his was perfect in every way except for one flaw—he has been disobedient since childhood, never heedful of advice.

It would be pointless to oppose, only serving to disgrace himself.

It was not easy for him, someone who always cherished solitude, despised interacting with others, and wished to be the sole presence in a ten-mile radius, to take along a whole procession just to bring Xuanbao!

"If you can convince the Ruo Family, I have no objections. I’m just worried that if both of you leave the Capital City, your great-grandmother will not be able to part with you."

Xuanyuan Que, "If Empress Dowager wishes to go, she can join us. I’ll have Xuanbao invite her grandmother, so Mother will have company as well."

The Emperor, "..."

Is this really the son who was above worldly concerns?

For Princess Wuyou’s reputation, he knows no limits!

Is he going on an inspection tour?

It’s more like taking the family on a trip, isn’t it?

"Why don’t you take me along too?"

Xuanyuan Que glanced at him, "It’s not impossible if you wish."

The Emperor, "..."

Utterly shameless!

Although the Emperor felt somewhat tempted.

However, as the sovereign, he couldn’t just leave the Capital at will; leaving the palace was strictly regulated.

"Don’t even consider taking your mother along. If Empress Dowager joins, I will be worried sick every day!"

The Mother is advanced in years; the Emperor does harbor real concerns for her safety outside.

Though in recent years, the Mother has seemed to grow younger, and out in the public, the Emperor worried that strangers might mistake him for her brother, rather than her son!

The Emperor felt he looked even older than his mother.

Alas, such is his fate, destined for hard work!

The hardest working person under heaven!

Ordinary men need only worry about their own small household, while he has to concern himself with millions of families.

While other men simply need to find ways to support their own families, he must devise ways to sustain countless citizens.

No wonder he ages more quickly.

That’s why he prays for no warfare—it would age him even faster.

The Emperor feared ending up more like the Empress Dowager’s father than her sibling.

~

The grand wedding of Yan Jiaojiao and Zhou Ludong was set for a month later. Xuanyuan Que was scheduled to embark on an educational journey to Nanzhou a month afterward, with Zhou Ludong and Ruo Zhou providing an escort.

Ruo Xuan insisted on joining them.

The Liu family and Ruo Shui initially opposed the idea—what would people think?

But the Emperor stated that Prince Xiaojiu was merely going on an educational trip, akin to sightseeing, and allowed Zhou Ludong to bring his wife along.

With an additional lady in the party and the eldest brother Ruo Zhou present, the Liu family and Ruo Shui were less resistant.

After Ruo Xuan persisted a little longer, and Yan Jiaojiao also came forward promising to take good care of Ruo Xuan, the married couple consented.

Upon learning that her beloved grandson was taking Xuanbao on a tour through Nanzhou, the Empress Dowager immediately expressed her eagerness to join.

The Emperor forbade it, concerned about the Empress Dowager encountering dangers on the journey due to her age.

Empress Dowager, "I feel that without Xiaojiu and Xuanbao, I’m more likely to encounter danger."

The Emperor, "..."